Vicki St. James, a former Miss Gay Indiana and a legend of the Indy drag community, emcees a drag bingo event on July 13 at the Luxe Event Center in Greenwood. St. James will be emcee at the upcoming Wigs, Weaves & Wine drag brunch at the Sycamore at Mallow Run on Aug. 13, organized by Greenwood Pride.
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For one afternoon, the grassy fields of Greenwood’s Woodman Park was transformed into a celebration of joy, diversity and acceptance.
The Greenwood Pride Festival brought thousands of people together — those within the LGBTQ community, allies, and other communities — to dance, sing and learn. Some of the area’s most talented drag performers brought an artistic and stylish flair to the proceedings.
The festival was a major success, and organizers want to spread that love around.
“We want people to know we’re really more than a festival — we care about the community around us,” said John Michael Jones, founder and assistant director of Greenwood Pride. “It’s not just LGBTQ causes; we want to help everyone who needs it.”
As Greenwood Pride branches out beyond its signature festival each June, the organization has looked for other ways to engage the community and raise money for important causes. The upcoming Wigs, Weaves & Wine event is an example of that mission.
The drag brunch, scheduled for Aug. 13 at the Sycamore at Mallow Run, will feature some of the state’s top drag performers strutting their stuff while attendees enjoy a full meal.
Contests will be held for the best hairdo — judged by the drag artists — and guests can take part in silent auctions and raffles.
All of it raises money to support agencies and programs partnering with Greenwood Pride, as well as to help Trinity Haven, which provides safe housing for LGBTQ+ youths facing housing instability.
“We’re supporting local entertainment, it’s a safe place that everybody can have a good time in, and then you know the proceeds are going to a good cause. No one’s making money on this — 100% of it goes back to the community,” said Suzanne Fortenberry, executive director of Greenwood Pride.
Greenwood Pride was founded in 2018 as a way to organize LGBTQIA+ Pride events locally, with a goal to inspire, educate, commemorate and celebrate the diversity of the community. The first festival was staged in 2021, and has grown every year since.
But as the organization has grown, Greenwood Pride has worked to expand its reach throughout the year. The group hosts family skating parties at Franklin Skate Club, and hopes to add yoga and self-defense classes. Recently, Greenwood Pride started a grief support group for LBGTQ+ individuals.
They’ve organized a monthly drag event at Bar Louie in Greenwood, and promote Luxe Event Center’s drag queen bingo.
“We’ve been able to do so many things,” Fortenberry said.
Previously, Greenwood Pride hosted a drag brunch on the Sunday following the festival in June. But organizers wanted to spread it out and give it more attention.
Searching for an appropriate date later in the summer, they found Aug. 13 was open and free of other major community events. As an added bonus, it happened to be Jones’s birthday.
The team at the Sycamore at Mallow Run offered the use of their facility for the event, and the drag brunch was in motion.
Greenwood Pride and Mallow Run have become firm partners over the past few years. The winery has been a sponsor of the festival in previous years and has hosted other events for the organization.
On July 25, the two teamed up to present Wine & Ukes, which brought local musician Allie Jean to give instruction to participants, while enjoying Mallow Run wines.
“Mallow Run has been a great partner for us,” Fortenberry said.
With the drag brunch established, the next question was how to best use the funds raised during the event. Greenwood Pride has built a solid donor base for the festival, covering its operating expenses for 2024 and leaving some seed money available for other programs, Fortenberry said.
They wanted to use the drag brunch to help others.
“100% of the proceeds from the drag brunch will go back into nonprofits in the community. We already have partners we’ve decided we want part of the funds to go to, and we’ll hold on to a little bit so throughout the year, if people reach out, we’ll have some money to be able to do that,” Fortenberry said.
A portion of proceeds will go to KIC-IT, which works with youths facing homelessness, to create kits for young people moving into their first home. The kits will be filled with items such as cutlery, plates, pots and other items to get them started.
“We want to let them know that life is hard, but we’re here for them,” Fortenberry said.
Other funds will go to Trinity Haven, another organization focused on homeless youths, and those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“With all the hatefulness out there, kids need to feel that there are people out there who will support them and love them regardless of their situation,” Jones said.
To help generate funds for these causes, Greenwood Pride has assembled an all-star group of performers for Wigs, Weaves & Wine. The event will be emceed by Vicki St. James, a former Miss Gay Indiana and a legend of the Indy drag community.
The show will feature Ava Morningstar, who was named Mx. Indy Pride 2023; AiJaye Finesse, Mr. Gay Indiana; Kitt St. Clair, first alternate for Miss Gay Indiana and Miss Southern Indiana Rising Star; Heather Bea, known as Indy’s Broadway Babe; Oliver Closeoff, Stacia Renee Onassis and Afrodytee.
Each of them brings something unique to the stage. Tipping the artists is strongly encouraged.
“We have something for everybody,” Fortenberry said.
Guests to the drag brunch can pose for photo opportunities with the performers, buy raffle tickets for a treasure chest of prizes or bid on a variety of silent auction items.
“The brunch is $60 for general admission, and that pays for the show and your brunch. But it’s for a good cause — you’re going to get something for your money, because we’re going to pay it forward,” Jones said.
IF YOU GO
Wigs, Weaves & Wine Drag Brunch
What: A fundraiser for Greenwood Pride featuring a collection of talented drag performers, as well as a silent auction and raffle. Proceeds benefit Greenwood Pride’s support of community partners, as well as Trinity Haven, which provides safe housing for LGBTQ+ youths.
When: 11:30 p.m. Aug. 13; show starts at 1.
Where: The Sycamore at Mallow Run, 7070 Whiteland Road, Bargersville
Cost: $60 general admission
Information: facebook.com/GreenwoodINPride
